Amazon secures satellite internet partnership in South Africa

Amazon’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite broadband division signed a commercial distribution agreement with South African telecommunications provider Herotel. Under the deal, Herotel will act as the local licensee and distribute the service under the brand name Evry, allowing Amazon to bypass South Africa’s licensing requirements that have blocked rival constellations.

The agreement gives Amazon regulatory clearance to deploy its roughly 400‑satellite constellation in South Africa, with a commercial launch targeted for 2027. South Africa’s Communications Minister Solly Malatsi attended the announcement, signalling government support for expanding broadband access. The partnership positions Amazon ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink, which remains barred from the market due to the country’s Black Economic Empowerment‑linked ownership rules.

The move marks Amazon’s first satellite internet venture on the African continent and could be the starting point for broader regional rollout, aiming to improve connectivity for underserved communities.